1970's

1970s –Third runway opens on the west side for general aviation.

1974 – San Jose Mayor Norman Y. Mineta elected to Congress representing San Jose and Silicon Valley and was instrumental in obtaining funds for the San José Airport and Santa Clara County’s public transportation system.

1977 – California artist Millard Sheets unveils a 20- by 30-foot mural in the main terminal depicting a millennium of Santa Clara Valley history. The mural is a gift from the San Jose Mercury and San Jose News in honor of the 200th anniversary of the founding of San José and the 125th anniversary of the establishment of newspapers.